LaHood: We’re making a difference

Monday

Apr 27, 2009 at 12:01 AMApr 27, 2009 at 12:31 PM

Three months into his job as transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, a Republican, says he feels like he’s “a full partner” in the Obama administration. The former Congressman from Peoria is at the forefront of the administration's battle to turn around the American economy.

Karen McDonald

Each day starts the same for U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

He wakes up around 7 a.m. and catches up on the latest newspapers either online or at his office. Washington, D.C., is his new home.

The hours pass with meetings on Capitol Hill, meetings at the White House and, just last Monday, the first meeting with the president’s Cabinet.

The weeks fly by with travels around the country.

Most recently, LaHood was in Vermont, announcing highway and airport dollars from the federal government, and New Hampshire for a groundbreaking of the first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project. In Phoenix and Houston he talked about light rail projects. In St. Cloud, Minn., and Philadelphia, he was with Vice President Joe Biden on Biden's middle-income task force tour.

He’s had several trips on Air Force One. President Barack Obama and Biden have visited his department twice.

Three months into the job, LaHood, a Republican, says he feels like he’s “a full partner” in the Obama administration. “I’ve been warmly welcomed by every Cabinet member.”

“I had 30 years in public service and to be able to continue public service is something I never dreamed I was going to do,” the former 18th District congressman said.

“We’ve been given an enormous responsibility. We feel like we’re really a part of getting the economy going in America. We’re right at the focal point of it, so I really couldn’t ask for anything more.”

A different job

Since 1994, Lahood’s main focus as a congressman was voting on the important issues of the day and representing several hundred thousand people in his 18th Congressional District, which includes Peoria.

He retired Jan. 2.

On Jan. 23, he was sworn in as the first Peorian to hold a Cabinet position. His department is charged with shepherding through one of the largest federal transportation bills since the Eisenhower administration built the interstate system.

“My job is really to work with the president to develop good transportation policy. On a much larger scale, carrying out policy that’s developed between Congress and the administration,” LaHood said.

The short term goal is to get the economy revved up with $48 billion provided for transportation infrastructure projects through the stimulus package.

Thus far, the U.S. Department of Transportation has approved more than 2,500 projects for funding, including 12 in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s District 4 at $32.3 million, which includes the Tri-County Area.

LaHood has said Illinois hasn’t received special treatment despite ranking first so far in stimulus funding approved for roads and bridges. The state quickly benefited because it had many shovel-ready projects waiting for funding.

“The most challenging part is making sure we spend this money correctly and really trying to do our part to help jump-start the economy,” LaHood said.

LaHood oversees the Department of Transportation and its key agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration and Surface Transportation Board, among others. The agency has a $70 billion annual budget and nearly 60,000 employees.

“We have lots of different forms of transportation in the department, whether it’s transit, or airports,” he said. “Some of these things I was familiar with and some of it is a learning curve for me, too.”

Another priority that’s muscled its way to the front of the action is the push to transform travel in America, creating high-speed rail lines.

A Chicago Hub Network was identified as one of 10 high-speed rail corridors as a potential recipient of federal funding.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the state would apply for funds to upgrade tracks to allow travel at speeds of 110 mph. High-speed rail would promote economic expansion, give more choices to travelers and would reduce carbon output.

“President Obama’s vision of robust, high-speed rail service offers Americans the kind of travel options that throughout our history have contributed to economic growth and enhanced quality of life,” LaHood said in a news release. “We simply can’t build the economy of the future on the transportation networks of the past.”

A story to tell

In such a high-profile position, LaHood says he’s had plenty of access to President Obama.

Obama leaned on the moderate Republican, who has good relationships on both sides of the aisle to help sway votes on the stimulus package, although not a single House Republican voted for it.

“We weren’t successful,” LaHood said.

The Administration may need Republican votes on more bailout funding or trade legislation. For his part, LaHood said there are opportunities to attract support for Obama priorities such as health care and energy legislation.

“I think I can be helpful on some energy policy and health care. I think I have the kind of relationship with members of Congress where I can be helpful,” LaHood said.

“I’ve really developed a wonderful relationship with the president.”

LaHood said it helps to have a formidable staff.

He’s also working to develop “livable communities” that tie together transportation and housing. Goals are to provide more choices for affordable housing near employment opportunities, more transportation options with lower costs and shorter travel times and a better environment.

“I think everyone, urban and rural alike, needs safe and affordable access. Access to work, to medical services, to schools, to shopping, to recreation and to other essential activities,” LaHood wrote recently, on his blog, Fastlane.

As far as LaHood’s tenure at the department, he’s not looking that far ahead.

“I haven’t set a time frame. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said.

Last year, as his retirement from 14 years in Congress grew near, LaHood said one of his most memorable moments was presiding over the U.S. House floor during President Clinton’s impeachment hearing.

“When the history books are written, I can tell my grandchildren I was the presiding officer,” he said, while working on his congressional memoirs.

Now, the 63-year-old says he’s in a new chapter of his life, a different job, a different opportunity — one that will create a new chapter in his book and one that cements his place in history.

“I get up every day with a lot of energy and enthusiasm for what we’re doing because I think we’re making a difference,” LaHood said.

“President Obama is going to go down in history as a transformational figure. I’ll be able to tell my grandkids I was part of an historic administration.”

Karen McDonald can be reached at (309) 686-3285 or kmcdonald@pjstar.com.

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